Adhesive applying means for coating the edges of textile material



July 19, 1955 R. s. M CAFFRAY 2,713,320

ADHESIVE APPLYING MEANS FOR COATING THE EDGES 0F TEXTILE MATERIAL Filed July 16, 1954 1 N V EN TOR. Rex Siuari M16121] I BY i j United States Patent ADPZESZVE APPLYIN G M'EAEJS FOR COATING THE EDGES ()F TEXTILE MATERIAL Rex Stuart MacQaiiray, Boiling Springs, Pa., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Application July 16, 1954, Serial No. 443,981

11 Claims. (Cl. 118-413) My invention relates to cement or adhesive applying means and more particularly to the adhesive materialconfined-pool type of applicator wherein a hopper for fluid adhesive has an opening in the bottom which is closed only by the material to be coated as the same passes across it so that a continuous layer or film of adhesive is applied to the material in the form of a strip corresponding in width to the width of the opening in the bottom of the hopper. One manner of using the device of the application is disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 445,491, filed July 23, 1954. Obviously, it may be used in other ways and with other apparatus. However, the device of the invention is particularly adapted for the coating of textile material or an edge portion thereof.

The uniform coating of an edge of a length of textile material with adhesive or the like is diflicult in View of the natural tendency of the highly flexible material to buckle or wrinkle and the difficulty in maintaining the edge portion tensioned and flat While the adhesive is being applied to it and thereafter until the coated edge is applied to a surface. A uniform and flat coating is particularly desirable when the coated edge portion of the fabric is to be adhesively connected to the edge portion of another length of fabric to form a lap joint therewith, as indicated in my said copending application mentioned above. The problem is considerably more diflicult when coating textile material than when coating relatively still and non-stretchable sheet material such as paper, or paper-like plastic material which need only to be drawn over a fiat surface to present a flat upper surface to the hopper. In the usual textile material, because of the inherent surface roughness, and particularly in the instance of a coarser fabric such as duck, it is virtually impossible to present a constant flat surface to the hopper orifice merely by drawing it over a flat surface below the hopper.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of my inven tion to provide an improved adhesive or cement applying means of the type described which includes improved means for tensioning the material in the applicator zone to provide a flat surface and to insure the application of the adhesive in a uniform coating.

A further object is to provide in such a device, im proved hold-down and material support means which are not only relatively adjustable to accommodate material of varying thickness but which include means engaging and supporting the material both forwardly of and rearwardly of the hopper whereby the material is maintained in a flattened condition from a point in advance of the hopper to a point beyond the same.

A further object is to provide in such a device, a laterally inwardly directed extension of the material support which is operative to support portions of the material lying laterally inwardly of the line of application of the adhesive.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of the invention, the structure of the several elements of the same, combinations and subcornbinations Patented july 19, 1955 ice of such elements, all of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanying drawing in connection with the following specification wherein the invention is shown, described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view of a currently preferred form of the invention;

Figure 2 is a like exploded view of the same showing the individual parts;

Figure 3 is an elevational view looking from the outer side;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 44 of Figure 5; and

Figure 5 is a transverse, vertical sectional View taken substantially on the plane of the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring specifically to the drawing, wherein like reference characters have been used throughout the several views to designate like parts, and referring at first to Figure l, 10 designates any suitable table or the like across which a length of flexible sheet material 11 is adapted to be drawn in the direction of the arrows in any suitable manner, as in the manner and by the means shown in my copending application aforesaid.

In the embodiment illustrated, the invention comprises any suitable hopper 12 having sides which converge to a restricted throat 13 which is defined at the front and rear by front and rear walls 14 and 15, respectively, which are preferably integral extensions of corresponding walls of the hopper 12. The lowermost portion of the front wall 14 is preferably formed to provide a rearwardly inclined lip 16 the free edge of which is adapted for engage'rnent with the upper surface of the sheet material 11. The lower edge 17 of the rear wall 15 is spaced slightly from the upper surface of the material and acts as a doctor blade for evenly spreading the adhesive, not shown, in a manner readily understood by those skilled in the art.

The sides of the throat 13 are defined by intermediate portions of the inner and outer hold-downs 18 and 19, respectively. Such hold-downs are flat members which are secured across the open sides of the throat 13 in any suitable manner as by being welded, soldered or brazed in place. The ends of the hold-downs 18 and 19 extend well forwardly and rearwardly of the hopper, particularly the throat 13. The lower edges of the hold-downs 18 and 19 are disposed to bear upon the upper surface of the material 11 as the same is moved across the table 10.

To support the material 11 in slidable engagement with the lower edges of the hold-downs 18 and 19 as well as with the lip 16, there has been provided a material support generally indicated at 29. The material support 26 comprises preferably a flat, plate-like member 21 which underlies the material 11 and which extends forwardly, rearwardly and laterally inwardly of the hopper 12 and throat 13. To accommodate materials of varying thickness, the support 213 is connected to the hopper as sembly for adjustment toward and away from the same. Any suitable connection for acconrphshing this function may be used by the particular arrangement illustrated is considered to be a preferred form. Thus, a portion of the support member 21 extends laterally outwardly of the throat 13 and outer hold-down 19 and is then doubled back upon itself to form a two-ply, horizontal flange 22. The free inner edge of the upper ply of the flange 23 is upwardly directed to provide a vertical flange 23 which is disposed in substantially vertically slidable engagement with the outer surface of the outer hold-down 19. The lower inner surface of the vertical flange 23 slidably engages the edge of the material 11 and provides a guide or stop to insure application of the cement only to the edge of the material.

The vertical flange 23 and the outer hold-down 19 are secured in relatively vertically adjusted positions by any suitable and well known means such as a pin and slot connection as illustrated. As shown, the outer hold-down is provided with a pair of laterally outwardly directed, threaded studs 24 which are freely slidable in vertical slots 25 formed in the vertical flange 23 of the support 20. Springs 26 on the studs 24 are forced into resilient engagement with the outer surface of the vertical flange 23 by nuts 27 threaded on the studs 24 whereby to 'secure the parts in relatively adjusted positions. If desired, the foregoing arrangement could be reversed so that the studs are carried by the vertical flange 23 so as to project laterally inwardly through slots formed in the outer hold-down 19. The horizontal flange 22 of the material support 20 may be formed with holes 28 therethrough for the reception of screws, bolts or the like which secure the assembly to the table 10. 'In like manner such flange 22 may be engaged with readily detachable clamping means such as a C-clamp, not shown, for clamping the assembly to the table 10. Such an arrangement is particularly desirable where a number of applicators are to be disposed in spaced alignment along a table edge as in my copending application aforesaid, and wherein the spacing of the assemblies must be varied for use with different cements or adhesives and/ or different materials. Such an arrangement permits infinite adjustments of the spacing, of course, which would not otherwise be possible. Alternatively, where pieces of material 11 shorter than the table are to be edge coated, the

sheet material may be anchored to the table and the hop- 7 per assembly may be slid along the table top. When so used, the hold-downs 18 and 19 together with the support member 20, particularly those portions disposed laterally inwardly and outwardly of the hold-downs, provide a broad base for the hopper 12 and prevent tilting or upsetting of the same.

In operation, and after being secured to the. table 10, an edge of a length of sheet material 11 is inserted bea tween support member 21 and the hold-downs 18 and 19, and as shown the hopper assembly and material support are relatively vertically adjusted so that the lower edges of the hold-downs 18 and 19 as well as the lip 16 engage the upper surface of the material 11. This engagement is light but is sufiiciently firm that the material 11 is smoothed out so as to be free of wrinkles prior tothe application of the cement or adhesive, not

shown, which flows by gravity from the hopper 12 by way of the throat 13 onto the upper surface of the material 11 as the same moves across the open bottom of the hopper or as the hopper is moved along the table. The forwardly extending portions of the hold-downs 18 and 19 likewise operate to 'maintain the material .11 wrinkle-free for some distance behind the hopper so that initial setting of the adhesive is permitted to take place whereby the coated portion of the material 11 is thereafter wrinkle-resistant. This is an important feature when coating textile material as in my copending application aforesaid. In such work, the material 11 travels very slowly so as to-permit the desired setting'of the adhesive prior to the second application of the same. The flattening out of the material portion of the support member 21 which projects laterally inwardly of the inner hold-down 18" as there is fthereby provided a flat support for a much wider strip of the material edge than 'that which is actually'coated. As aforesaid, when the material to be coated is textile 'material intended to be lap seamed with a similarly coated edge of a like strip of textile material, it is of the utmost importance that the lapped and cement or adhesive coated edges be maintained wrinkle-free throughout the entire operation but particularly so during the coating to obtain a uniform coat and likewise during the preis facilitated by that r Lil liminary setting periods as otherwise a flat seam with uniform adhesion characteristics would be impossible. Thus, the importance of those features of the invention which flatten the material to eliminate wrinkles cannot be exaggerated. 7

While I have shown and described what is now thought to be the preferred form of the invention, it is obvious that the same is susceptible of other embodiments and expressions. Consequently, I do not limit myself to the precise structure shown and described hereinabove except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim: 7 r

1. In a hopper of the material-confined-pool type wherein material to be coated is passed across a discharge opening formed in the bottom of a coating material containing hopper to receive a layer of coating materialtherefrom; the improvement comprising a substantially horizontally disposed hold-down fixed to said said hopper, laterally outwardly directed threaded studs fixed to said front and rear portions of said hold-down,

a plate-like material support underlying said hopper and extending-forwardly, rearwardly and inwardly thereof, a substantially Vetrical flange on said material support laterally outwardly of said hold-down, said flange being formed with vertical slots, said studs being relatively 7 vertically slidably received in said slots to permit relative vertical adjustment of said hopper and'material support for the accommodation therebetween of materials of different thickness, and nuts on said studs for securing said. material support and hopper in relatively adjusted positions.

' 2. The structure of claim 1, wherein said material support includes a horizontal flange portion doubled over itself and disposed laterally outwardly of said hopper,

and said last-named portion having an upwardly directed inner free edge which forms said'vertical flange.

3. In a hopper of the material-confined-pool type wherein sheet material or the like is passed across a discharge opening formed in the bottom of a coating material containing hopper to receive a layer of coating material therefrom, said hopper having a restricted throat above said opening; the improvement comprising an inner and an outer hold-down fixed to said throat on opposite sides thereof, said hold-downs having front and rear portions extending forwardly and rearwardly of said throat, a plate-like material support underlying said hopper and extending forwardly and rearwardly of said throat, a substantially vertical flange on said material support'slidably overlying said outer hold-down, means.

readily releasably connecting said flange and outer holddown together to permit relatively vertical adjustment of said material support and hopper so as to accommodate therebetween sheet material of varying thickness.

4. The structure of claim 3, wherein said material support extends forwardly and rearwardly of said throatsubstantially the same distance as do said front and rear portions of said hold-downs. i

5. The structure of claim 3, wherein said material support includes a horizontal flange of two-ply construction disposed laterally outwardly of said outer holddown, and said vertical flange comprising an integral 'upward extension'of one ply of said horizontal flange.

6. In a hopper of the material-confined-pool type wherein sheet material or the like is passed across a discharge opening formed in the bottom of acoating material containing hopper to receive a layer of coating material therefrom, said hopper having a restricted throat above said opening; the improvement comprising an inner and an outer hold-down fixed to said throat on opposite sides thereof, said hold-downs having front and rear portions extending forwardlyandrearwardly of said throat, a plate-like material support underlying saidhopper and extending forwardly and rearwardly of said throat, substantially vertically extending means on said material support slidably engaging said outer holddown outwardly thereof, connecting means readily releasably connecting said last-named means and outer hold-down together to permit relatively vertical adjustment of said material support and hopper so as to accommodate therebetween sheet material of varying thickness.

7. The structure of claim 3, wherein said material support extends laterally inwardly of said inner holddown a substantial distance.

8. The structure of claim 7, wherein said material support and hold-downs are coextensive in length.

9. The structure of claim 3, vherein said material support includes a horizontal flange comprised of upper and lower plies disposed laterally outwardly of said outer hold-down, said vertical flange extending upwardly from said horizontal flange, and said horizontal flange comprising means for securing said material support and said hopper to a material supporting table or the like.

10. In a hopper of the material-confined-pool type wherein sheet material or the like is passed across a discharge opening formed in the bottom of a coating material containing hopper to receive a layer of coating material therefrom; the improvement comprising sheet material hold-downs extending forwardly and rearwardly of said hopper, a flat support for material underlying said hopper and extending forwardly and rearwardly thereof, substantially vertically extending means on said support slidably engaging said hopper laterally outwardly thereof, connecting means readily releasably connecting said last-named means and said hopper together to permit relative vertical adjustment of said material support and said hopper together with said hold-down fixed thereto so as to accommodate thcrebetween materials of varying thickness.

11. The structure of claim 10, wherein said vertically extending means comprises stop means engaging an edge of sheet material passing across said material support.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 964,133 Strehler July 12, 1910 2,579,842 Lundberg Dec. 25, 1951 2,695,005 Lewin et a1. Nov. 23, 1954 

